Finnair is evaluating whether to exit in-house MRO operations altogether as part of its restructuring programme.
The loss-making Finnish flag carrier has asked third-party MRO providers to tender for engine and component support operations, which are currently being carried out by Finnair Technical Services, to find a more "cost-efficient solution" in future, a spokeswoman told Flightglobal Pro.
This comes a year after the engineering division abandoned airframe heavy maintenance in favour of more lucrative engine and component MRO.
While no decision has yet been made whether or not to outsource that work in future, exiting the in-house maintenance business was "an option", the spokeswoman said.
Roughly half of Finnair Technical Services' business is for the parent airline while the other half is for third-party customers.
Finnair has no deadline for when the decision about its future engine and component maintenance needs to be taken, the spokeswoman said.
She added that a number of MRO operations would nevertheless have to be provided at the airline's base in future.
Apart from offering engine, auxiliary power unit, landing gear and component support, Finnair Technical Services also undertakes some light C checks for its Airbus A320 and Embraer 170 and 190 fleets in Helsinki.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
